1
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Adams RA, Fernandes-Cerqueira C, Notarnicola A, Mertsching E, Xu Z, Lo WS, Ogilvie K, Chiang KP, Ampudia J, Rosengren S, Cubitt A, King DJ, Mendlein JD, Yang XL, Nangle LA, Lundberg IE, Jakobsson PJ, Schimmel P. Serum-circulating His-tRNA synthetase inhibits organ-targeted immune responses. Cell Mol Immunol 2021; 18:1463-1475. [PMID: 31797905 PMCID: PMC8166958 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-019-0331-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
His-tRNA synthetase (HARS) is targeted by autoantibodies in chronic and acute inflammatory anti-Jo-1-positive antisynthetase syndrome. The extensive activation and migration of immune cells into lung and muscle are associated with interstitial lung disease, myositis, and morbidity. It is unknown whether the sequestration of HARS is an epiphenomenon or plays a causal role in the disease. Here, we show that HARS circulates in healthy individuals, but it is largely undetectable in the serum of anti-Jo-1-positive antisynthetase syndrome patients. In cultured primary human skeletal muscle myoblasts (HSkMC), HARS is released in increasing amounts during their differentiation into myotubes. We further show that HARS regulates immune cell engagement and inhibits CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell activation. In mouse and rodent models of acute inflammatory diseases, HARS administration downregulates immune activation. In contrast, neutralization of extracellular HARS by high-titer antibody responses during tissue injury increases susceptibility to immune attack, similar to what is seen in humans with anti-Jo-1-positive disease. Collectively, these data suggest that extracellular HARS is homeostatic in normal subjects, and its sequestration contributes to the morbidity of the anti-Jo-1-positive antisynthetase syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A Adams
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Cátia Fernandes-Cerqueira
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antonella Notarnicola
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Zhiwen Xu
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
- IAS HKUST- Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Pangu Biopharma, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing-Sze Lo
- IAS HKUST- Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Pangu Biopharma, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kathleen Ogilvie
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Kyle P Chiang
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Jeanette Ampudia
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Sanna Rosengren
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Andrea Cubitt
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - David J King
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - John D Mendlein
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Xiang-Lei Yang
- The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research, 10650 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Leslie A Nangle
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Ingrid E Lundberg
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per-Johan Jakobsson
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paul Schimmel
- The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research, 10650 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
- The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research, Scripps Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
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2
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Ho DSY, Huang R, Wang MP, Lo WS, Lam TH. Adolescent alcohol drinking in Hong Kong: a school-based survey. Hong Kong Med J 2019; 25 Suppl 3:13-15. [PMID: 30792366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- D S Y Ho
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong
| | - R Huang
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong
| | - M P Wang
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong
| | - W S Lo
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong
| | - T H Lam
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong
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3
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Xu Z, Lo WS, Beck DB, Schuch LA, Oláhová M, Kopajtich R, Chong YE, Alston CL, Seidl E, Zhai L, Lau CF, Timchak D, LeDuc CA, Borczuk AC, Teich AF, Juusola J, Sofeso C, Müller C, Pierre G, Hilliard T, Turnpenny PD, Wagner M, Kappler M, Brasch F, Bouffard JP, Nangle LA, Yang XL, Zhang M, Taylor RW, Prokisch H, Griese M, Chung WK, Schimmel P. Bi-allelic Mutations in Phe-tRNA Synthetase Associated with a Multi-system Pulmonary Disease Support Non-translational Function. Am J Hum Genet 2018; 103:100-114. [PMID: 29979980 PMCID: PMC6035289 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The tRNA synthetases catalyze the first step of protein synthesis and have increasingly been studied for their nuclear and extra-cellular ex-translational activities. Human genetic conditions such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth have been attributed to dominant gain-of-function mutations in some tRNA synthetases. Unlike dominantly inherited gain-of-function mutations, recessive loss-of-function mutations can potentially elucidate ex-translational activities. We present here five individuals from four families with a multi-system disease associated with bi-allelic mutations in FARSB that encodes the beta chain of the alpha2beta2 phenylalanine-tRNA synthetase (FARS). Collectively, the mutant alleles encompass a 5'-splice junction non-coding variant (SJV) and six missense variants, one of which is shared by unrelated individuals. The clinical condition is characterized by interstitial lung disease, cerebral aneurysms and brain calcifications, and cirrhosis. For the SJV, we confirmed exon skipping leading to a frameshift associated with noncatalytic activity. While the bi-allelic combination of the SJV with a p.Arg305Gln missense mutation in two individuals led to severe disease, cells from neither the asymptomatic heterozygous carriers nor the compound heterozygous affected individual had any defect in protein synthesis. These results support a disease mechanism independent of tRNA synthetase activities in protein translation and suggest that this FARS activity is essential for normal function in multiple organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Xu
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, China; aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Wing-Sze Lo
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - David B Beck
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Luise A Schuch
- Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Division of Pediatric Pneumology, University Hospital Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Lindwurmstr. 4, 80337 München, Germany
| | - Monika Oláhová
- Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Institute of Neuroscience, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Robert Kopajtich
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Yeeting E Chong
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Charlotte L Alston
- Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Institute of Neuroscience, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Elias Seidl
- Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Division of Pediatric Pneumology, University Hospital Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Lindwurmstr. 4, 80337 München, Germany
| | - Liting Zhai
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ching-Fun Lau
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Donna Timchak
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Goryeb Children's Hospital, Atlantic Health System, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
| | - Charles A LeDuc
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Alain C Borczuk
- Department of Pathology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Andrew F Teich
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | | | - Christina Sofeso
- Center for Human Genetics and Laboratory Diagnostics (AHC) Dr. Klein, Dr. Rost and Colleagues, Lochhamer Str. 29, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christoph Müller
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79085 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Germaine Pierre
- Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol BS2 8BJ, UK
| | - Tom Hilliard
- Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol BS2 8BJ, UK
| | | | - Matias Wagner
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Institut für Neurogenomik, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Kappler
- Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Division of Pediatric Pneumology, University Hospital Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Lindwurmstr. 4, 80337 München, Germany
| | - Frank Brasch
- Klinikum Bielefeld Mitte, Institute for Pathology, Teutoburger Straße 50, 33604 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - John Paul Bouffard
- Department Pathology, Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
| | - Leslie A Nangle
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Xiang-Lei Yang
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research, The Scripps Research Institute, 10650 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Insitute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Mingjie Zhang
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Robert W Taylor
- Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Institute of Neuroscience, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Holger Prokisch
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Griese
- Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Division of Pediatric Pneumology, University Hospital Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Lindwurmstr. 4, 80337 München, Germany
| | - Wendy K Chung
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Paul Schimmel
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research, The Scripps Research Institute, 10650 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research, Scripps Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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Huang R, Ho SY, Wang MP, Lo WS, Lam TH. Reported alcohol drinking and mental health problems in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. Drug Alcohol Depend 2016; 164:47-54. [PMID: 27177803 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Revised: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between reported alcohol drinking and mental health problems in Hong Kong adolescents. METHODS In a school-based questionnaire survey in 2012-13 on 4620 Secondary one (US Grade seven) to six students (mean age 14.5, SD 1.6 years; 53.4% boys), alcohol drinking was classified as never drinking (reference), experimental, former, less-than-weekly and weekly drinking. Binge drinking was defined as drinking at least five drinks on one occasion. Mental health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) with five subscales (emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer relationship problems and prosocial activity) and the total difficulties score (sum of the first four subscales). Multilevel regression was used to analyse the associations of mental health problems with drinking frequency and binge drinking, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS Compared with never drinking, higher total difficulties scores were associated with less-than-weekly drinking (adjusted odds ratio AOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.01-1.91), weekly drinking (AOR 3.21, 95% CI 2.18-4.70), and binge drinking (AOR 2.18, 95% CI 1.42-3.32). Weekly drinking was most strongly associated with hyperactivity (AOR 6.27, 95% CI 1.42-3.32) among all subscales. Girls were more likely than boys to report emotional problems (AOR 3.36 vs 1.47) and hyperactivity (AOR 19.2 vs 2.31) related to weekly alcohol drinking (both P for interaction <0.05). CONCLUSIONS In Hong Kong adolescents, less-than-weekly, weekly, and binge drinking are associated with higher risks of mental health problems based on self-reported data. Prospective studies are warranted to explore the causality between alcohol drinking and mental health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Huang
- Zhejiang Medical College, Hangzhou, China; School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - S Y Ho
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - M P Wang
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - W S Lo
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - T H Lam
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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5
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Wei Z, Xu Z, Liu X, Lo WS, Ye F, Lau CF, Wang F, Zhou JJ, Nangle LA, Yang XL, Zhang M, Schimmel P. Alternative splicing creates two new architectures for human tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:1247-55. [PMID: 26773056 PMCID: PMC4756856 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Many human tRNA synthetases evolved alternative functions outside of protein synthesis. These functions are associated with over 200 splice variants (SVs), most of which are catalytic nulls that engender new biology. While known to regulate non-translational activities, little is known about structures resulting from natural internal ablations of any protein. Here, we report analysis of two closely related, internally deleted, SVs of homodimeric human tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS). In spite of both variants ablating a portion of the catalytic core and dimer-interface contacts of native TyrRS, each folded into a distinct stable structure. Biochemical and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis showed that the internal deletion of TyrRSΔE2–4 SV gave an alternative, neomorphic dimer interface ‘orthogonal’ to that of native TyrRS. In contrast, the internal C-terminal splice site of TyrRSΔE2–3 prevented either dimerization interface from forming, and yielded a predominantly monomeric protein. Unlike ubiquitous TyrRS, the neomorphs showed clear tissue preferences, which were distinct from each other. The results demonstrate a sophisticated structural plasticity of a human tRNA synthetase for architectural reorganizations that are preferentially elicited in specific tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyi Wei
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China Departmentof Biology, South University of Science and Technology of China, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Zhiwen Xu
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The landmark, 15 Queen'sRoad Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaotian Liu
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing-Sze Lo
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The landmark, 15 Queen'sRoad Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Fei Ye
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ching-Fun Lau
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The landmark, 15 Queen'sRoad Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Feng Wang
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The landmark, 15 Queen'sRoad Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jie J Zhou
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The landmark, 15 Queen'sRoad Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Leslie A Nangle
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Xiang-Lei Yang
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research and the Departments of Chemical Physiology and of Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Mingjie Zhang
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul Schimmel
- IAS HKUST - Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research and the Departments of Cell and Molecular Biology, and Chemistry, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research and Departments of Metabolism & Aging, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
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Lo WS, Gardiner E, Xu Z, Lau CF, Wang F, Zhou JJ, Mendlein JD, Nangle LA, Chiang KP, Yang XL, Au KF, Wong WH, Guo M, Zhang M, Schimmel P. Human tRNA synthetase catalytic nulls with diverse functions. Science 2014; 345:328-32. [PMID: 25035493 PMCID: PMC4188629 DOI: 10.1126/science.1252943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Genetic efficiency in higher organisms depends on mechanisms to create multiple functions from single genes. To investigate this question for an enzyme family, we chose aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (AARSs). They are exceptional in their progressive and accretive proliferation of noncatalytic domains as the Tree of Life is ascended. Here we report discovery of a large number of natural catalytic nulls (CNs) for each human AARS. Splicing events retain noncatalytic domains while ablating the catalytic domain to create CNs with diverse functions. Each synthetase is converted into several new signaling proteins with biological activities "orthogonal" to that of the catalytic parent. We suggest that splice variants with nonenzymatic functions may be more general, as evidenced by recent findings of other catalytically inactive splice-variant enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing-Sze Lo
- IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Elisabeth Gardiner
- The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research, The Scripps Research Institute, 10650 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Zhiwen Xu
- IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ching-Fun Lau
- IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Feng Wang
- IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jie J Zhou
- IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - John D Mendlein
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Leslie A Nangle
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Kyle P Chiang
- aTyr Pharma, 3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Xiang-Lei Yang
- IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research, The Scripps Research Institute, 10650 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kin-Fai Au
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Wing Hung Wong
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Min Guo
- The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research, Scripps Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Mingjie Zhang
- IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul Schimmel
- IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research, The Scripps Research Institute, 10650 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. The Scripps Laboratories for tRNA Synthetase Research, Scripps Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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7
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Zhou JJ, Wang F, Xu Z, Lo WS, Lau CF, Chiang KP, Nangle LA, Ashlock MA, Mendlein JD, Yang XL, Zhang M, Schimmel P. Secreted histidyl-tRNA synthetase splice variants elaborate major epitopes for autoantibodies in inflammatory myositis. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:19269-75. [PMID: 24898250 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.c114.571026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory and debilitating myositis and interstitial lung disease are commonly associated with autoantibodies (anti-Jo-1 antibodies) to cytoplasmic histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS). Anti-Jo-1 antibodies from different disease-afflicted patients react mostly with spatially separated epitopes in the three-dimensional structure of human HisRS. We noted that two HisRS splice variants (SVs) include these spatially separated regions, but each SV lacks the HisRS catalytic domain. Despite the large deletions, the two SVs cross-react with a substantial population of anti-Jo-l antibodies from myositis patients. Moreover, expression of at least one of the SVs is up-regulated in dermatomyositis patients, and cell-based experiments show that both SVs and HisRS can be secreted. We suggest that, in patients with inflammatory myositis, anti-Jo-1 antibodies may have extracellular activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie J Zhou
- From the IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, and Pangu BioPharma, Hong Kong, China
| | - Feng Wang
- From the IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, and Pangu BioPharma, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhiwen Xu
- From the IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, and Pangu BioPharma, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing-Sze Lo
- From the IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, and Pangu BioPharma, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ching-Fun Lau
- From the IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, and Pangu BioPharma, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | | | | | - Xiang-Lei Yang
- From the IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, and The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, and
| | - Mingjie Zhang
- From the IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, and Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul Schimmel
- From the IAS HKUST-Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study, and The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, and Scripps Florida, Jupiter, Florida 33458
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Wang F, Xu Z, Zhou J, Lo WS, Lau CF, Nangle LA, Yang XL, Zhang M, Schimmel P. Regulated capture by exosomes of mRNAs for cytoplasmic tRNA synthetases. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:29223-8. [PMID: 24003230 PMCID: PMC3795223 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.c113.490599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2013] [Revised: 08/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Although tRNA synthetases are enzymes that catalyze the first step of translation in the cytoplasm, surprising functions unrelated to translation have been reported. These studies, and the demonstration of novel activities of splice variants, suggest a far broader reach of tRNA synthetases into cell biology than previously recognized. Here we show that mRNAs for most tRNA synthetases can be detected in exosomes. Also detected in exosomes was an mRNA encoding a unique splice variant that others had associated with prostate cancer. The exosomal mRNAs encoding the native synthetase and its cancer-associated splice variant could be translated in vitro and in mammalian cells into stable proteins. Other results showed that selection by exosomes of the splice variant mRNA could be regulated by an external stimulus. Thus, a broad and diverse regulated pool of tRNA synthetase-derived mRNAs is packaged for genetic exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang
- From the IAS HKUST–Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study and
- Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhiwen Xu
- From the IAS HKUST–Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study and
- Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- From the IAS HKUST–Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study and
- Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing-Sze Lo
- From the IAS HKUST–Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study and
- Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ching-Fun Lau
- From the IAS HKUST–Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study and
- Pangu Biopharma, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Xiang-Lei Yang
- From the IAS HKUST–Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study and
- The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Mingjie Zhang
- From the IAS HKUST–Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study and
- the Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul Schimmel
- From the IAS HKUST–Scripps R&D Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Study and
- The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037
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Ho SY, Lai YK, Lam TH, Chan V, Mak KK, Lo WS. Risk factors and outcomes of childhood obesity in Hong Kong: a retrospective cohort study. Hong Kong Med J 2013; 19 Suppl 4:45-47. [PMID: 23775188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
1. Onset of obesity is related to age, gender, pubertal stage, dietary habits, and parental occupation. Targeting the high riskgroups may help curb obesity in children. 2. Obesity may lead to poor self-esteem and potential psychosocial risk. The psychosocial impact of obesity could be more pronounced in girls than boys. 3. The association between obesity and psychosocial health could be bi-directional. Improving psychosocial health could be beneficial in weight management for normal-weight and obese children. 4. Obesity is associated with higher blood pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Y Ho
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road,Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Lo WS, Ho SY, Mak KK, Lam TH. The use of Stunkard's figure rating scale to identify underweight and overweight in Chinese adolescents. PLoS One 2012; 7:e50017. [PMID: 23189177 PMCID: PMC3506537 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2012] [Accepted: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To compare the performance of Stunkard's current body size (CBS) with self-reported body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist to stature ratio (WSR) in predicting weight status in Chinese adolescents, and to determine the CBS cutoffs for overweight/obesity and underweight. METHODOLOGY This cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 5,418 secondary school students (45.2% boys; mean age 14.7 years). Height and weight were measured by trained teachers or researchers. Subjects were classified as underweight, normal weight, or overweight/obese according to the International Obesity Task Force cutoffs. Subjects were asked to select the figure that best resembled their CBS on the Stunkard's figure rating scale. Self-reported height, weight, WC and WSR were also obtained. The performance of CBS, self-reported BMI, WC and WSR as a weight status indicator was analysed by sex-specific receiver operating characteristic curves. The optimal CBS cutoffs for underweight and overweight/obesity were determined based on the Youden Index. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Apart from self-reported BMI, CBS had the greatest area under curve (AUC) for underweight in boys (0.82) and girls (0.81). For overweight/obesity, CBS also had a greater AUC (0.85) than self-reported WC and WSR in boys, and an AUC (0.81) comparable to self-reported WC and WSR in girls. In general, CBS values of 3 and 5 appeared to be the optimal cutoffs for underweight and overweight/obesity, respectively, in different sex-age subgroups. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE CBS is a potentially useful indicator to assess weight status of adolescents when measured and self-reported BMI are not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing-Sze Lo
- School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Sai-Yin Ho
- School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Kwok-Kei Mak
- School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Tai-Hing Lam
- School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Sleep problems may have different influences on students' academic performance. We investigated the prevalence of sleep patterns, naps, and sleep disorders, and their associations with academic performance in Hong Kong adolescents. METHODS In 2007-2008, 22,678 students aged 12-18 (41.6% boys) completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, sleep patterns and problems, and lifestyle factors including exercise, smoking, alcohol drinking, and academic performance. RESULTS The prevalence of having >8 hours of sleep was higher on holiday nights (86.4%) than on school-day nights (27.4%). Sleeping after midnight was more common before holidays (49.3%) than before school days (19.9%). Symptoms of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were reported by 21.5% and 34.4% of students. Having >2 hours of weekend sleep delay was associated with poor academic performance with an odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval) of 1.46 (1.29-1.65). However, having 1-2 hours and >2 hours of weekend wake-up delay were both associated with less likelihood of poor academic performance with ORs of 0.64 (0.56-0.73) and 0.69 (0.59-0.80). Other factors associated with poor academic performance included >2 hours of sleep debt, OR of 1.17 (1.03-1.33); having any insomnia symptoms in the past 30 days, OR of 1.27 (1.17-1.37); and having any OSA symptoms at least weekly, OR of 1.23 (1.14-1.32). Napping in the past 5 school days was only marginally associated with poor school performance with an OR of 1.08 (1.00-1.16). CONCLUSION Poorer academic performance was associated with sleep debt, and symptoms of insomnia and OSA. Sleep compensation but not naps may be a protective factor of poor academic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwok-Kei Mak
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
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12
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing-Sze Lo
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Lo WS, Ho SY, Wong BYM, Mak KK, Lam TH. Validity and test-retest reliability in assessing current body size with figure drawings in Chinese adolescents. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 6:e107-13. [DOI: 10.3109/17477166.2011.575146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Mak KK, Ho SY, Fong DYT, Lo WS, Lai YK, Lam TH. Norms and demographic differences of the short form-12 health survey version 2 in Chinese adolescents. J Paediatr Child Health 2011; 47:173-82. [PMID: 21244545 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2010.01939.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIM This study aimed to establish the normative values for the 12-item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-12v2) and examine demographic differences among Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. METHODS A total of 28,981 Hong Kong Chinese adolescents aged 12-18 participated in a school-based survey in 2006-2007. Sex- and age-specific SF-12v2 scores were obtained. Ordinal logistic regression models and linear regression models were used to examine the demographic differences for the eight subscales including physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role emotional and mental health, and two component summary scores of Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary. RESULTS The mean (standard deviation) Physical Component Summary score was 50.28 (6.82) for boys and 49.37 (6.47) for girls. The corresponding Mental Component Summary score was 45.86 (9.86) for boys and 44.77 (9.56) for girls. Ceiling effects were observed in some of the eight subscales but not the two component summary scores. Ordinal logistic regression showed that girls had significantly lower scores than boys in most subscales including physical functioning with odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.89 (0.84-0.93); role physical, 0.94 (0.90-0.98); bodily pain, 0.76 (0.73-0.80); general health, 0.55 (0.53-0.57); vitality, 0.72 (0.69-0.75); role emotional, 0.78 (0.74-0.81); and mental health, 0.91 (0.88-0.95). In general, older and non-local-born adolescents had lower component summary scores than their peers. CONCLUSIONS This study has provided norms and identified demographic differences of the Chinese SF-12v2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwok-Kei Mak
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Mak KK, Ho SY, Lo WS, McManus AM, Lam TH. Prevalence of exercise and non-exercise physical activity in Chinese adolescents. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2011; 8:3. [PMID: 21251295 PMCID: PMC3036595 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-8-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2010] [Accepted: 01/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-exercise physical activity (NEPA) is an important part of energy expenditure. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of exercise and NEPA among adolescents. In the HKSOS project 2006-2007, the proportions of Hong Kong Chinese adolescents (N=32,005) achieving 60-minute exercise and 60-minute NEPA per day were analyzed. Exercise was defined as structured and planned physical activities, and NEPA was defined as unstructured and unplanned physical activities including walking for transportation and climbing stairs. The prevalence of exercise was higher in boys than girls (after school: 63.8% vs 39.6%; holidays: 78.7% vs 60.0%), but the prevalence of NEPA in boys was similar to that in girls (after school: 72.2% vs 68.0%; holidays: 80.3% vs 79.4%). In general, the prevalence of both exercise and NEPA decreased with age in boys and girls, but was more marked for exercise than NEPA. In conclusion, the prevalence of exercise was lower in adolescent girls than boys, and decreased more rapidly with age than NEPA. NEPA seems to be easier to accumulate than exercise among adolescents regardless of sex and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwok-Kei Mak
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
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Ho SY, Wong BYM, Lo WS, Mak KK, Thomas GN, Lam TH. Neighbourhood food environment and dietary intakes in adolescents: sex and perceived family affluence as moderators. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 5:420-7. [PMID: 20078377 DOI: 10.3109/17477160903505910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of perceived availability of fast-food shops, restaurants, and convenience stores on adolescent dietary intakes. METHODS Survey data from 34 369 students in 42 Hong Kong secondary schools were collected in 2006-7. Respondents reported the availability of fast-food shops, restaurants and convenience stores in the neighbourhood, and their intakes of fruit, vegetables, high-fat foods and junk food/soft drinks. For intakes of high-fat foods and junk food/ soft drinks, ≤ once a week was defined as low consumption and the rest moderate/high consumption. At least three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit daily were defined as sufficient consumption. Logistic regression yielded adjusted odds ratios (OR) for each dietary intake in relation to the reported food shops. Potential effect modifications by socio-demographic factors were also examined. RESULTS Perceived availability of fast-food shops and convenience stores were positively associated with moderate/high consumptions of high-fat foods (OR(fast) =1.10 and OR(con) =1.15) and junk food/soft drinks (OR(fast)=1.10 and OR(con) =1.10). Significant negative associations of the perceived availability of restaurants with intakes of vegetables and fruit were observed (OR(veg) =0.87 and OR(fruit) =0.83). The positive relationship between reporting fast-food shops with intake of junk food/soft drinks were observed only in boys and those with low perceived family affluence. The negative association of reporting restaurants with fruit consumption was found in those with low and middle perceived family affluence only. CONCLUSIONS Perceived availability of neighbourhood fast-food shops, restaurants, and convenience stores may have a negative impact on adolescent dietary intakes particularly for those from poorer families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai-Yin Ho
- School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR.
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Lai HK, Ho SY, Wong CM, Mak KK, Lo WS, Lam TH. Exposure to particulate air pollution at different living locations and respiratory symptoms in Hong Kong--an application of satellite information. Int J Environ Health Res 2010; 20:219-230. [PMID: 20352550 DOI: 10.1080/09603120903511119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Respiratory ill-health effects due to particulate air exposure at different geographical locations in Hong Kong that aggregate individual living locations were estimated based on satellite information. We assessed the presence of respiratory symptoms of a frequent cough or sputum in school students aged 11-20 years old (n = 9,881). Daily particulate air pollution levels at students' living locations were derived from the surface extinction coefficients measured by satellite and measurements from the air pollutant monitoring stations at ground level. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) [95% CI] of respiratory symptoms was 1.047 [1.005, 1.091] per 10 microg m(-3) increase in PM(10) concentration. Specificity tests showed that adjusted OR of having other symptoms is not significant (p = 0.20-0.94). Exposures to PM(10) at different geographical locations is associated with increased odds of having respiratory symptoms (cough or sputum) but not with other symptoms unrelated to air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hak-Kan Lai
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Wong BYM, Cerin E, Ho SY, Mak KK, Lo WS, Lam TH. Adolescents’ physical activity: Competition between perceived neighborhood sport facilities and home media resources. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 5:169-76. [DOI: 10.3109/17477160903159432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Mak KK, Ho SY, Lo WS, Thomas GN, McManus AM, Day JR, Lam TH. Health-related physical fitness and weight status in Hong Kong adolescents. BMC Public Health 2010; 10:88. [PMID: 20178615 PMCID: PMC2836297 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2009] [Accepted: 02/23/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study was designed to investigate the relation between health-related physical fitness and weight status in Hong Kong adolescents. Methods 3,204 students aged 12-18 years participated in the Hong Kong Student Obesity Surveillance (HKSOS) project in 2006-2007. Anthropometric measures (height, weight) and health-related fitness (push-up, sit-up, sit-and-reach, 9-minute run) were assessed. Body mass index (BMI) was computed to classify participants into normal weight, underweight (Grade I, II/III), overweight, and obese groups. The associations of health-related physical fitness with BMI and weight status were examined by partial correlation coefficients and analysis of covariance, respectively. Results More boys than girls were overweight or obese (18.0% vs 8.7%), but more girls than boys were underweight (22.3% vs 16.7%). Boys performed significantly (P < 0.001) better in sit-up (38.8 vs 31.6 times/min) and 9-minute run (1632.1 vs 1353.2 m), but poorer in sit-and-reach (27.4 vs 32.2 cm) than girls. All four physical fitness tests were significantly positively correlated with each other in both sexes, and BMI was only weakly correlated with sit up and sit-and-reach tests in boys. Decreasing performance (P for trend < 0.05) was observed from normal weight to overweight and obese for push-up, sit-up, and 9-minute run in both sexes. From normal weight to Grade I and Grade II/III underweight, decreasing performance (P for trend < 0.05) for sit-up and sit-and-reach in both sexes and for push-up in boys was observed. Conclusions The relations between BMI and health-related physical fitness in adolescents were non-linear. Overweight/obese and underweight adolescents had poorer performance in push-up and sit-up tests than normal weight adolescents. Different aspects of health-related physical fitness may serve as immediate indicators of potential health risks for underweight and overweight adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwok-Kei Mak
- School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Mak KK, Ho SY, Thomas GN, Lo WS, Cheuk DKL, Lai YK, Lam TH. Smoking and sleep disorders in Chinese adolescents. Sleep Med 2010; 11:268-73. [PMID: 20176504 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2009.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2009] [Revised: 06/27/2009] [Accepted: 07/21/2009] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between adolescent smoking and sleep disorders. METHODS In the Hong Kong student obesity surveillance project, 29,397 Chinese students, aged 12-18 years, completed a health survey. Insomnia was defined as having any of the following three symptoms: difficulty initiating sleep (DIS), difficulty maintaining sleep (DMS) and early morning awakening (EMA). The presence of snoring and difficulty breathing during sleep (DBS) was also reported. Logistic regression yielded adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for each sleep disorder by smoking status. RESULTS Compared with never smokers, the ORs (95% CI) of insomnia were 1.39 (1.25-1.54) for experimenters (smoked once or a few times) and 0.91 (0.83-1.00) for current smokers. The corresponding ORs were 1.42 (1.16-1.74) and 3.58 (3.15-4.06) for snoring (P for trend<0.001) and 1.40 (1.10-1.79) and 3.39 (2.97-4.03) for DBS (P for trend<0.001). Current smokers compared with never smokers were less likely to report DIS (OR=0.43, 95% CI=0.38-0.50, P<0.001) and EMA (OR=0.83, 95% CI=0.73-0.94, P=0.003), but more likely to report DMS (OR=1.45, 95% CI=1.28-1.63, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS In terms of dosage, adolescent smoking was associated with snoring and DBS, with increasing ORs from never smokers to experimental and current smokers. Current smoking was associated positively with DMS, but negatively with DIS and EMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwok-Kei Mak
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Abstract
AIM To investigate the prospective effects of weight perception of self and weight comments by others on psychological health problems among Chinese adolescents. METHODS In the Hong Kong Student Obesity Surveillance project, 8716 adolescents (41.3% boys) aged 14.2 +/- 1.7 years were followed prospectively. Logistic regression yielded odds ratios (ORs) for psychological health problems at 1-year follow-up by weight comments received and weight perception at baseline (2006), adjusting for each other sociodemographic factors and body mass index. RESULTS Perceived fatness at baseline predicted subsequent headache and feeling stressful with adjusted ORs (95% confidence intervals) of 1.17 (1.03-1.33) and 1.20 (1.03-1.39), respectively. Perceived thinness at baseline did not predict any subsequent health problems. Receiving incorrect weight comments at baseline also predicted headache, feeling stressful and feeling depressed at follow-up, with adjusted ORs of 1.19 (1.08-1.31), 1.26 (1.04-1.53) and 1.38 (1.10-1.74) respectively. No gender difference was found in the effects of weight perception and weight comments on psychological outcomes. CONCLUSIONS In adolescents, perceived fatness and incorrect weight comments predicted psychological health problems at 1-year follow-up. Family members, peers and other social contacts should realize the potential adverse effects of their weight comments, and adolescents should be taught how to correctly assess their weight status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing-Sze Lo
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Zhao C, Xu Z, Wang F, Chen J, Ng SK, Wong PW, Yu Z, Pun FW, Ren L, Lo WS, Tsang SY, Xue H. Alternative-splicing in the exon-10 region of GABA(A) receptor beta(2) subunit gene: relationships between novel isoforms and psychotic disorders. PLoS One 2009; 4:e6977. [PMID: 19763268 PMCID: PMC2741204 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2009] [Accepted: 08/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Non-coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GABRB2, the gene for β2-subunit of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor, have been associated with schizophrenia (SCZ) and quantitatively correlated to mRNA expression and alternative splicing. Methods and Findings Expression of the Exon 10 region of GABRB2 from minigene constructs revealed this region to be an “alternative splicing hotspot” that readily gave rise to differently spliced isoforms depending on intron sequences. This led to a search in human brain cDNA libraries, and the discovery of two novel isoforms, β2S1 and β2S2, bearing variations in the neighborhood of Exon-10. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of postmortem brain samples showed increased β2S1 expression and decreased β2S2 expression in both SCZ and bipolar disorder (BPD) compared to controls. Disease-control differences were significantly correlated with SNP rs187269 in BPD males for both β2S1 and β2S2 expressions, and significantly correlated with SNPs rs2546620 and rs187269 in SCZ males for β2S2 expression. Moreover, site-directed mutagenesis indicated that Thr365, a potential phosphorylation site in Exon-10, played a key role in determining the time profile of the ATP-dependent electrophysiological current run-down. Conclusion This study therefore provided experimental evidence for the importance of non-coding sequences in the Exon-10 region in GABRB2 with respect to β2-subunit splicing diversity and the etiologies of SCZ and BPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cunyou Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Genomics Center, Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhiwen Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Genomics Center, Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Genomics Center, Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jianhuan Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Genomics Center, Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu-Kin Ng
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Genomics Center, Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pak-Wing Wong
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Genomics Center, Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhiliang Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Genomics Center, Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Frank W. Pun
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Genomics Center, Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lihuan Ren
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Genomics Center, Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing-Sze Lo
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Genomics Center, Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shui-Ying Tsang
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Genomics Center, Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hong Xue
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Genomics Center, Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- * E-mail:
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Lo WS, Ho SY, Mak KK, Lai YK, Lam TH. Adolescents' experience of comments about their weight - prevalence, accuracy and effects on weight misperception. BMC Public Health 2009; 9:271. [PMID: 19642972 PMCID: PMC2731749 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-9-271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2009] [Accepted: 07/30/2009] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Weight comments are commonly received by adolescents, but the accuracy of the comments and their effects on weight misperception are unclear. We assessed the prevalence and accuracy of weight comments received by Chinese adolescents from different sources and their relation to weight misperception. Methods In the Hong Kong Student Obesity Surveillance (HKSOS) project 2006–07, 22612 students aged 11–18 (41.5% boys) completed a questionnaire on obesity. Students responded if family members, peers and professionals had seriously commented over the past 30 days that they were "too fat" or "too thin" in two separate questions. The accuracy of the comments was judged against the actual weight status derived from self-reported height and weight. Self-perceived weight status was also reported and any discordance with the actual weight status denoted weight misperception. Logistic regression yielded adjusted odd ratios for weight misperception by the type of weight comments received. Results One in three students received weight comments, and the mother was the most common source of weight comments. Health professional was the most accurate source of weight comments, yet less than half the comments were correct. Adolescents receiving incorrect comments had increased risk of having weight misperception in all weight status groups. Receiving conflicting comments was positively associated with weight misperception among normal weight adolescents. In contrast, underweight and overweight/obese adolescents receiving correct weight comments were less likely to have weight misperception. Conclusion Weight comments, mostly incorrect, were commonly received by Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong, and such incorrect comments were associated with weight misperception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing-Sze Lo
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
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Lo WS, Xu Z, Yu Z, Pun FW, Ng SK, Chen J, Tong KL, Zhao C, Xu X, Tsang SY, Harano M, Stöber G, Nimgaonkar VL, Xue H. Positive selection within the Schizophrenia-associated GABA(A) receptor beta(2) gene. PLoS One 2007; 2:e462. [PMID: 17520021 PMCID: PMC1866178 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2007] [Accepted: 04/24/2007] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The gamma-aminobutyric acid type-A (GABAA) receptor plays a major role in inhibitory neurotransmissions. Intronic SNPs and haplotypes in GABRB2, the gene for GABAA receptor β2 subunit, are associated with schizophrenia and correlated with the expression of two alternatively spliced β2 isoforms. In the present study, using chimpanzee as an ancestral reference, high frequencies were observed for the derived (D) alleles of the four SNPs rs6556547, rs187269, rs1816071 and rs1816072 in GABRB2, suggesting the occurrence of positive selection for these derived alleles. Coalescence-based simulation showed that the population frequency spectra and the frequencies of H56, the haplotype having all four D alleles, significantly deviated from neutral-evolution expectation in various demographic models. Haplotypes containing the derived allele of rs1816072 displayed significantly less diversity compared to haplotypes containing its ancestral allele, further supporting positive selection. The variations in DD-genotype frequencies in five human populations provided a snapshot of the evolutionary history, which suggested that the positive selections of the D alleles are recent and likely ongoing. The divergence between the DD-genotype profiles of schizophrenic and control samples pointed to the schizophrenia-relevance of positive selections, with the schizophrenic samples showing weakened selections compared to the controls. These DD-genotypes were previously found to increase the expression of β2, especially its long isoform. Electrophysiological analysis showed that this long β2 isoform favored by the positive selections is more sensitive than the short isoform to the inhibition of GABAA receptor function by energy depletion. These findings represent the first demonstration of positive selection in a schizophrenia-associated gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing-Sze Lo
- Department of Biochemistry, Applied Genomics Laboratory and HKH Bioinformatics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhiwen Xu
- Department of Biochemistry, Applied Genomics Laboratory and HKH Bioinformatics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhiliang Yu
- Graduate program of Atmospheric, Marine, and Coastal Environment, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Frank W. Pun
- Department of Biochemistry, Applied Genomics Laboratory and HKH Bioinformatics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu-Kin Ng
- Graduate Program of Bioengineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jianhuan Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, Applied Genomics Laboratory and HKH Bioinformatics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka-Lok Tong
- Department of Biochemistry, Applied Genomics Laboratory and HKH Bioinformatics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cunyou Zhao
- Graduate Program of Bioengineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaojing Xu
- Graduate Program of Bioengineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shui-Ying Tsang
- Department of Biochemistry, Applied Genomics Laboratory and HKH Bioinformatics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mutsuo Harano
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuka, Japan
| | - Gerald Stöber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Vishwajit L. Nimgaonkar
- Departments of Psychiatry and Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Hong Xue
- Department of Biochemistry, Applied Genomics Laboratory and HKH Bioinformatics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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Lo WS, Harano M, Gawlik M, Yu Z, Chen J, Pun FW, Tong KL, Zhao C, Ng SK, Tsang SY, Uchimura N, Stober G, Xue H. GABRB2 association with schizophrenia: commonalities and differences between ethnic groups and clinical subtypes. Biol Psychiatry 2007; 61:653-60. [PMID: 16950232 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2006] [Revised: 05/03/2006] [Accepted: 05/09/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes in intron 8 of type A gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)) receptor beta2 subunit gene (GABRB2) were initially found to be associated with schizophrenia in Chinese. This finding was subjected to cross-validation in this study with Japanese (JP) and German Caucasian (GE) subjects. METHODS Single nucleotide polymorphisms discovery and genotyping were carried out through resequencing of a 1839 base pair (bp) region in GABRB2. Tagging SNPs (tSNPs) were selected based on linkage disequilibrium (LD), combinations of which were analyzed with Bonferroni correction and permutation for disease association. Random resampling was applied to generate size- and gender-balanced cases and control subjects. RESULTS Out of the 17 SNPs (9.2/kilobase [kb]) revealed, 6 were population-specific. Population variations in LD were observable, and at least two low LD points were identified in both populations. Although disease association at single SNP level was only shown in GE, strong association was demonstrated in both JP (p = .0002 - .0191) and GE (p = .0033 - .0410) subjects, centering on haplotypes containing rs1816072 and rs1816071. Among different clinical subtypes, the most significant association was exhibited by systematic schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS Cross-population validation of GABRB2 association with schizophrenia has been obtained with JP and GE subjects, with the genotype-disease correlations being strongest in systematic schizophrenia, the most severe subtype of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing-Sze Lo
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Genomics Laboratory, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
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Cheung BMY, Au THY, Chan SY, Lam CM, Lau SH, Lee RP, Lee SF, Lo WS, Sin EHF, Tang MY, Tsang HH. The relationship between hypertension and anxiety or depression in Hong Kong Chinese. Exp Clin Cardiol 2005; 10:21-24. [PMID: 19641663 PMCID: PMC2716224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychosocial stress can be the cause or the consequence of hypertension. OBJECTIVE To study the association between hypertension and anxiety or depression in adults from Hong Kong, China. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Patients with diagnosed hypertension (n=197) were recruited to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. The control group comprised 182 normotensive subjects recruited using random telephone numbers. RESULTS The score in the anxiety subscale (HADS-A) of the HADS correlated with age (r= -0.23, P<0.001) and sex (r=0.11, P=0.042), and was found to be higher in women. The score in the depression subscale (HADS-D) correlated with age (r=0.17, P=0.003) and hypertension (r=0.12, P=0.039), but not with sex (r=0.02, P=0.68). When the control subjects were matched for sex and age with the subjects with hypertension, the mean HADS-A score was 5.51+/-0.41 in 113 hypertensive subjects and 4.38+/-0.39 in 113 normotensive subjects (P=0.047). The mean HADS-D score was 5.56+/-0.39 in the hypertensive and 4.76+/-0.32 in the normotensive subjects (P=0.11). Multiple regression analysis using data from both groups indicated that the HADS-A score was related to the HADS-D score (beta=0.49, P<0.001), age (beta= -0.25, P<0.001) and sex (beta=0.12, P=0.01) (R(2)=0.28), whereas the HADS-D score was related to the HADS-A score (beta=0.48, P<0.001), age (beta=0.30, P<0.001), positive smoking status (beta=0.13, P=0.004) and lack of exercise habit (beta=0.12, P=0.008) (R(2)=0.31). Hypertension was related to waist circumference, history of parental hypertension and age (R(2)=0.38, P<0.001). Anxiety and depression scores were rejected as independent variables. CONCLUSIONS Hypertension was associated with anxiety but not depression; however, age, history of parental hypertension and central obesity appeared to have a stronger association with hypertension in adults from Hong Kong.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard MY Cheung
- Correspondence: Dr Bernard MY Cheung, University Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China. Telephone 852-2-855-4768, fax 852-2-904-9443, e-mail
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Lo WS, Duggan L, Emre NC, Belotserkovskya R, Lane WS, Shiekhattar R, Berger SL. Snf1--a histone kinase that works in concert with the histone acetyltransferase Gcn5 to regulate transcription. Science 2001; 293:1142-6. [PMID: 11498592 DOI: 10.1126/science.1062322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 300] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Modification of histones is an important element in the regulation of gene expression. Previous work suggested a link between acetylation and phosphorylation, but questioned its mechanistic basis. We have purified a histone H3 serine-10 kinase complex from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and have identified its catalytic subunit as Snf1. The Snf1/AMPK family of kinases function in conserved signal transduction pathways. Our results show that Snf1 and the acetyltransferase Gcn5 function in an obligate sequence to enhance INO1 transcription by modifying histone H3 serine-10 and lysine-14. Thus, phosphorylation and acetylation are targeted to the same histone by promoter-specific regulation by a kinase/acetyltransferase pair, supporting models of gene regulation wherein transcription is controlled by coordinated patterns of histone modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- W S Lo
- Molecular Genetics Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Lo WS, Trievel RC, Rojas JR, Duggan L, Hsu JY, Allis CD, Marmorstein R, Berger SL. Phosphorylation of serine 10 in histone H3 is functionally linked in vitro and in vivo to Gcn5-mediated acetylation at lysine 14. Mol Cell 2000; 5:917-26. [PMID: 10911986 DOI: 10.1016/s1097-2765(00)80257-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 439] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Multiple covalent modifications exist in the amino-terminal tails of core histones, but whether a relationship exists between them is unknown. We examined the relationship between serine 10 phosphorylation and lysine 14 acetylation in histone H3 and have found that, in vitro, several HAT enzymes displayed increased activity on H3 peptides bearing phospho-Ser-10. This augmenting effect of Ser-10 phosphorylation on acetylation by yGcn5 was lost by substitution of alanine for arginine 164 [Gcn5(R164A)], a residue close to Ser-10 in the structure of the ternary tGcn5/CoA/histone H3 complex. Gcn5(R164A) had reduced activity in vivo at a subset of Gcn5-dependent promoters, and, strikingly, transcription of this same subset of genes was also impaired by substitution of serine 10 to alanine in the histone H3 tail. These observations suggest that transcriptional regulation occurs by multiple mechanistically linked covalent modifications of histones.
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Affiliation(s)
- W S Lo
- Molecular Genetics Program, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19024, USA
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Abstract
Diploid yeast develop pseudohyphae in response to nitrogen starvation, while haploid yeast produce invasive filaments which penetrate the agar in rich medium. We have identified a gene, FLO11, that encodes a cell wall protein which is critically required for both invasion and pseudohyphae formation in response to nitrogen starvation. FLO11 encodes a cell surface flocculin with a structure similar to the class of yeast serine/threonine-rich GPI-anchored cell wall proteins. Cells of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain Sigma1278b with deletions of FLO11 do not form pseudohyphae as diploids nor invade agar as haploids. In rich media, FLO11 is regulated by mating type; it is expressed in haploid cells but not in diploids. Upon transfer to nitrogen starvation media, however, FLO11 transcripts accumulate in diploid cells, but not in haploids. Overexpression of FLO11 in diploid cells, which are otherwise not invasive, enables them to invade agar. Thus, the mating type repression of FLO11 in diploids grown in rich media suffices to explain the inability of these cells to invade. The promoter of FLO11 contains a consensus binding sequence for Ste12p and Tec1p, proteins known to cooperatively activate transcription of Ty1 elements and the TEC1 gene during development of pseudohyphae. Yeast with a deletion of STE12 does not express FLO11 transcripts, indicating that STE12 is required for FLO11 expression. These ste12-deletion strains also do not invade agar. However, the ability to invade can be restored by overexpressing FLO11. Activation of FLO11 may thus be the primary means by which Ste12p and Tec1p cause invasive growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- W S Lo
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, Jamaica, New York 11439, USA
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Abstract
Diploid strains of S. cerevisiae are known to develop pseudohyphae in response to starvation for nitrogen. We report that both haploid and diploid yeast grow in a filamentous form when embedded in solid media. This is not a response to starvation, since yeast grown on rich media and overlaid with rich agar grow within the agar as pseudohyphae. While we find that the only element of diploidy required for formation of pseudohyphae in response to nitrogen starvation is the a1/alpha 2 repressor, pseudohyphal development by embedded cells does not require a1/alpha 2. Deletion of BUD 5 prevented the formation of pseudohyphae by embedded cells, suggesting that these structures are the result of ordered filament formation rather than agar penetration. Deletion of STE 12 prevented the formation of pseudohyphae by all cell types, showing that the same signal transduction pathway is used by embedded cells as by those responding to nitrogen starvation. Different cell types of yeast thus form filaments in response to several kinds of environmental stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- W S Lo
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, Jamaica, New York 11439, USA
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Abstract
We report the characterization of a gene encoding a novel flocculin related to the STA genes of yeast, which encode secreted glucoamylase. The STA genes comprise sequences that are homologous to the sporulation-specific glucoamylase SGA and to two other sequences, S2 and S1. We find that S2 and S1 are part of a single gene which we have named FLO11. The sequence of FLO11 reveals a 4,104-bp open reading frame on chromosome IX whose predicted product is similar in overall structure to the class of yeast serine/threonine-rich GPI-anchored cell wall proteins. An amino-terminal domain containing a signal sequence and a carboxy-terminal domain with homology to GPI (glycosyl-phosphatidyl-inositol) anchor-containing proteins are separated by a central domain containing a highly repeated threonine- and serine-rich sequence. Yeast cells that express FLO11 aggregate in the calcium-dependent process of flocculation. Flocculation is abolished when FLO11 is disrupted. The product of STA1 also is shown to have flocculating activity. When a green fluorescent protein fusion of FLO11 was expressed from the FLO11 promoter on a single-copy plasmid, fluorescence was observed in vivo at the periphery of cells. We propose that FLO11 encodes a flocculin because of its demonstrated role in flocculation, its structural similarity to other members of the FLO gene family, and the cell surface location of its product. FLO11 gene sequences are present in all yeast strains tested, including all standard laboratory strains, unlike the STA genes which are present only in the variant strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. diastaticus. FLO11 differs from all other yeast flocculins in that it is located near a centromere rather than a telomere, and its expression is regulated by mating type. Repression of FLO11-dependent flocculation in diploids is conferred by the mating-type repressor al/alpha2.
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Affiliation(s)
- W S Lo
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, Jamaica, New York 11439, USA
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Abstract
Four alpha-amylase-encoding cDNA (alpha Amy-C) clones were isolated from a cDNA library derived from poly(A)+RNA of gibberellic acid (GA3)-treated rice aleurone layers. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicates that the four cDNAs were derived from different alpha Amy genes. Expression of the individual alpha Amy gene in germinating seeds and cultured suspension cells of rice was studied using gene-specific probes. In germinating seeds, expression of the alpha Amy genes is positively regulated by GA3 in a temporally coordinated but quantitatively distinct manner. In cultured suspension cells, in contrast, expression of the alpha Amy genes is negatively and differentially regulated by sugars present in the medium. In addition, one strong and one weak carbohydrate-starvation-responsive alpha Amy genes have been identified. Interactions between the promoter region (HS501) of a rice alpha Amy gene and GA3-inducible DNA binding proteins in rice aleurone cells were also studied. A DNA mobility-shift assay showed that the aleurone proteins interact with two specific DNA fragments within HS501. One fragment is located between nt -131 to -170 and contains two imperfect directly repeated pyrimidine elements and a putative GA3-response element. The other fragment is located between nt -92 to -130 that contains a putative enhancer sequence. The interactions between aleurone proteins and these two fragments are sequence-specific and GA-responsive.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Yu
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
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Liu WJ, Lo WS, Hsieh HJ, Huang TY, Chiang CH. Increased incidence of asthma and pulmonary dysfunction after severe lower respiratory tract infection in infancy. Zhonghua Min Guo Xiao Er Ke Yi Xue Hui Za Zhi 1991; 32:348-57. [PMID: 1823511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
In the present study we tried to define the effect of lower respiratory tract infections upon pulmonary function and/or asthma in childhood. Thirty-five children with history of pneumonia in infancy were followed five to ten years later; all were asked to respond questionnaire, received physical examination and were diagnosed for pulmonary function. The results follow: 13 children (37%) had developed asthma, a significantly higher percentage than normal prevalence among students in this area. Simple pulmonary function test, pulmonary function test after distilled water mist and after hypertonic saline (4.5%) mist all showed abnormal values in VC (17%, 14%, 29% respectively), in IVC (46%, 51%, 53%), in FVC (20%, 23%, 24%), in FEVl (17%, 23%, 29%), in FEF25-75% (37%, 49%, 47%), in FEF75% (26%, 23%, 29%) and in FEVl/VC (20%, 14%, 29%). Methacholine challenge test (PC20) showed a marked decrease of PC20 in asthmatic children; each was less than 5 mg/ml (mean value; 0.99 mg/ml). Family-allergy in at least one parent and wheeze were the two significant risk factors. Nevertheless, in 22 non-family-allergy children, the occurrence of asthma was also higher than general prevalence (18.2% vs 5.6%). Wheezing was evident in viral infections in infancy, but bacterial culture from sputum or throat swabs failed to find pathogenic bacteria. These results indicate that while the genetic factor may be important, viral infections may be more important because, even in non-family-allergy children, the occurrence of asthma was higher for infants infected in early infancy than the general prevalence for age-matched students.
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Affiliation(s)
- W J Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan, R.O.C
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Lo WS, Pelcovits RA, Pindak R, Srajer G. Dynamical behavior of thin ferroelectric liquid-crystal films in ac electric fields. Phys Rev A 1990; 42:3630-3633. [PMID: 9904449 DOI: 10.1103/physreva.42.3630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
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Abstract
The clinical and histopathological features of 14 cases of so-called sclerosing haemangioma of the lung are described. All developed in Hong Kong Chinese women. Histochemical and ultrastructural study of these tumours indicates an epithelial origin. The term benign sclerosing pneumocytoma is suggested as being more appropriate for this unusual tumour.
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